http://mmajunkie.comBIRMINGHAM, England – With perhaps his biggest win yet, Mark Munoz is convinced he’s ready for a title shot.

Following a two-round beating of fellow middleweight Chris Leben that forced the fighter’s corner to call it quits before the third, Munoz was declared the TKO winner of the main event of Saturday’s UFC 138 event.

The event took place at LG Arena in Birmingham, England. The main card airs via same-day delay on Spike TV in the U.S., and it aired live in other countries.

Although scheduled as the UFC’s first non-title five-rounder, Munoz needed just 10 minutes.

The two-time NCAA Division I national-champion wrestler scored a quick takedown in the first, but Leben quickly worked his way back up. Munoz made him pay with body punches, but after some strikes of his own, Leben surprisingly scored a takedown and unloaded some solid punches when his opponent quickly returned to his feet. After Leben’s failed guillotine choke, Munoz took top position and battered him with ground and pound, as well as heavy punches as Leben staggered back to his feet. Leben returned fire, but the round was Munoz’s.

Leben looked clearly fatigued as the second round started, and Munoz tripped him to the mat within the first minute of the frame. Munoz postured up with some heavy ground and pound, and he made Leben pay with power punches as he got back to his feet. After another takedown, Munoz battered a kneeling Leben with blows that left the “Crippler” badly bloodied. After a timeout to check the cut, Leben initially told the doctor he couldn’t see. But when the ref threatened to stop it, Leben assured him he was OK to go. The beating continuing once the round continued.

The round was Munoz’s, and it proved the final action of the night. Between rounds, cornermen told officials Leben couldn’t see, and the fight was halted via corner’s stoppage.

“It’s hard to fight when you’re choking on blood,” a dejected Leben said. “I’m definitely going
to need to evaluate my ground game after that performance.”

For the usually mild-mannered Munoz, it was his opportunity to stump for a shot at the middleweight belt.

“Chris Leben is a tough, tough competitor,” he said. “I knew I needed to look out for his left hand. … I had to get my angles, utilize my wrestling, get my single-leg (takedowns), and utilize my ground and pound. That’s what I did.

“I paid my dues in this weight class, and I think I deserve a title shot. Anderson Silva is by far the best pound-for-pound fighter. I give him all the respect and honor, but I think I deserve a title shot right now.”

Munoz (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) now has won four straight and seven of his past eight. Leben (22-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) sees the momentum of a 4-1 run halted by the loss.

Renan Barao wins 27th straight

Will people finally start taking Renan Barao seriously?

Following his co-main-event win over fellow bantamweight contender Brad Pickett, it’s hard not to. After all, the Brazilian has now registered a staggering 27 straight victories.

The bout opened with an immediate slugfest, and both fighters connected with some heavy shots. The damaging blows continued through the first few minutes of the fight, though Pickett seemed to dictate the pacing. But with two minutes remaining in the opening round, Barao unloaded a big knee right up the middle that staggered Pickett. Barao immediately unloaded a combination that dropped Pickett, stood over him and rained down more punches, followed him to the mat, took back mount, and then choked out the dazed fighter with a rear-naked choke in a lightning-quick sequence.

The crowd-silencing finish came at the 4:09 mark of the opening round.

Pickett, whom many thought could become the UFC’s first English champ, was given every opportunity to recover, but Barao’s relentless attack gave him no time to shake the cobwebs.

“I fought really hard and had a great camp,” he said. “My power, technique (and) skill [were] all fantastic, and I couldn’t be happier with this win against a tough opponent.”

Barao (27-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) now has won every fight (plus one no-contest) since a split-decision loss in his 2005 promotional debut. Pickett (20-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who returned from a near-yearlong layoff due to injury, is now 1-2 since a career-best nine-fight win streak, which included a stint with the WEC.

Alves impressive in win over newcomer Abedi

Thiago Alves got an impressive victory when he needed it most, and he ultimately scored a first-round submission victory over newcomer Papy Abedi.

In the first round, Alves, a heavy favorite, opted to stand and trade with Abedi, who initially got the better of exchanges with punches and kicks from varying angles. Quick combos and inside leg kicks proved especially effective, and after stalking the Brazilian, Abedi appeared ready to hang with one of the world’s top welterweights.

But a determined Alves remained alert and soon unloaded his own combination that dropped the Swedish-Congolese fighter, who was on wobbly legs. He then opened up a laceration with a slicing elbow across the face after he moved into the mount position. Abedi tried to roll free, but Alves locked on a fight-ending rear-naked choke moments later.

“I love England, and this is one of the highlights of my career,” said Alves, who eyes a return at January’s event in Rio de Janeiro. “I had an amazing training camp and can’t wait for the next one. I’d love to fight in Brazil. That is my dream.”

Alves (19-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC), a former UFC title challenger, snapped out of a 1-3 skid with the much-needed victory. Abedi (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), a veteran of the European fight circuit, suffers his first career loss.

Perosh avoids Diabate’s striking, gets submission win

Anthony Perosh avoided his opponent’s renowned striking and picked up his second straight win since a return to the light-heavyweight division with a second-round submission victory over Cyrille Diabate.

In the first round, Perosh simply tried to avoid Diabate’s striking and continually failed to get the fight to the ground until late in the round. By then, though, it was too late to mount much in the way of offense.

But in the second, he did it in the first minute and immediately took the mount position. He transitioned between top and back mount while mixing in some heavy blows and rear-naked-choke attempts. Diabate had opportunities to escape, but the French kickboxer failed to capitalize. After a final volley, Perosh saw his opportunity, and the Australian vet clamped on the fight-ending choke.

The tap-out came at the 3:09 mark of the round.

“My first (UFC) win was great, but I needed to back it up, and I’m delighted to have done so.” Perosh said. “I[ve trained in boxing for only one year, but I have focused on it twice as much as anything else, and it paid off.”

Perosh (12-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC), who’s bounced between the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions during two UFC stints, has built some recent momentum with submission victories over Diabate and Tom Blackledge. Diabate (17-8-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) suffers just his second loss in nine fights.

Etim dazzles after long layoff

After a 19-month layoff due to a lingering injury, English lightweight Terry Etim needed just 17 seconds to claim a victory in his return fight.

Facing Hawaiian fighter Eddie Faaloloto, Etim simply landed a few short hooks, unloaded a spinning back kick, locked on an arm-in guillotine choke, and then wrapped guard as his opponent slammed him to the mat.

With the choke tight, Faaloloto was forced to tap out in just 17 seconds, which brought the English crowd to a roar.

“I said I was coming back with a bang, and there you go,” Etim said. “I really enjoyed that. I’ve been out for a while, so I need to get back and gain some momentum.”

Etim (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), who had been sidelined with a lingering rib injury, quietly moves into title contention with his fifth win in six fights. Faaloloto (2-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC), meanwhile, falls to 0-3 under the Zuffa banner and likely will be released.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.